Driveway Garden Creation

Driveway Garden AfterThe typical suburban landscape sports a double driveway up from the street, with a strip of space between the top of the driveway and the front door that needs to provide interest throughout the year.

This area is a space that the homeowners see whenever they leave from or return to the house.  It is the first area the visitor sees, and often is a very open ...

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$ $ Landscaping Adds Property Value $ $

People typically embark on home renovation projects with a mind towards increasing the value of their home for resale purposes.  There are different rules of thumb for the expected recoup value of various home improvements.  Landscaping, however, is the only improvement that increases in value over time, whereas changes to the structure depreciate through the years.

The initial cost of installing plant material is directly proportional to ...

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Design Consideration – Water Feature

Studies have shown that the presence of a water feature is one of the biggest draws in the landscape – particularly the sound of running water.  Water brings soothing sounds, a sense of calm, and a sensation of coolness in the summer.  The sound of running water, particularly if hidden, can entice the visitor through the landscape.

Water features can range from a large ...

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Ornamental Grasses Add Pizzazz

Every landscape should include a nice selection of ornamental grasses. They are very easy care plants – generally only needing shearing back close to the ground in early spring. They like lean soil – no need to fertilize. They are reliably deer resistant and pest free. They provide a range of benefits in the landscape – e.g., they ...

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Design Consideration – Year-Round Interest

This time of year when we are, quite frankly, tired of a somewhat barren landscape, it is the opportune time to consider adding some plants that perform admirably throughout the year.  The best are those that exhibit desirable features that differ with the changing seasons.  Clearly, evergreens provide year-round interest, and your landscape should include many of them, interspersed with your deciduous plantings that shed ...

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Design Consideration – Moon Gardens

If you enjoy spending time outdoors in the evening, consider installing a garden close to your patio, deck, or walkway whose theme is white.  White flowers are more visible than others at night, and many are very fragrant.  You can anchor such a garden with a small white flowering ornamental tree (Chionanthus virginicus – White Fringetree, a Virginia native), or a few white flowering shrubs (Clethra ...

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Sustainable Landscapes ►►► the “buzz” ►►

In recent years “sustainability” has become the buzzword for environmentally responsible landscaping.  School curricula are devoted to the training of it and national associations dedicated to developing standards for it.  But cut to the chase and you’ve probably subscribed to sustainable practices, which are based on principles of recycling and tend to mimic nature’s landscapes where native plants grow, said to be ...

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